Fort Morgan, Colorado
Encyclopedia
The City of Fort Morgan is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat
and the most populous city of Morgan County
, Colorado
, United States
. The United States Census Bureau
estimated that the city population was 10,844 in 2005.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²), of which, 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.32%) is water.
As growth slows and unemployment rise Fort Morgan and other small towns in eastern CO slowly die.
7-4-2011
of 2000, there were 11,034 people, 3,887 households, and 2,736 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,472.1 people per square mile (955.2/km²). There were 4,094 housing units at an average density of 917.2 per square mile (354.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.43% White, 0.28% African American, 1.01% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.24% Pacific Islander, 20.62% from other races
, and 3.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39.04% of the population.
There were 3,887 households out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,128, and the median income for a family was $36,134. Males had a median income of $27,667 versus $22,346 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,024. About 8.9% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those
under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
, where he was interred alongside his twin sister who died in early childhood.
Fort Morgan is the boyhood home of Big Band musician Glenn Miller
. Miller went to High school
in Fort Morgan and was known to have once played trumpet on top of Abner S. Baker School, since destroyed in a fire and now rebuilt, which at the time was the high school
campus but is now reserved for fifth and sixth graders.
Robert G. Whitehead
(1916–2007) was born in Fort Morgan to a ranching family. He marketed the first-aid ointment known as "Blue Star". Some 50 million jars are sold annually. The product claims to offer relief from psoriasis
, ringworm, athlete's foot
and various kinds of itching.
Joel Dreessen
, tight end for the Houston Texans, grew up in Fort Morgan and attended Fort Morgan schools. He graduated from Fort Morgan High School in 2000.
Michael Crichton
lived in Fort Morgan for a short time during World War II
with his family when his father was drafted to serve in the war.
, the national passenger rail system, provides service through Fort Morgan
, operating its California Zephyr
daily in both directions between Chicago
and Emeryville
, California
, across the bay from San Francisco.
Although the town is served by Fort Morgan Municipal Airport, there are no scheduled airlines operating from there. Denver International Airport
is 76 miles southwest and is the closest airport to provide scheduled services.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
and the most populous city of Morgan County
Morgan County, Colorado
Morgan County is the 18th most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named after old Fort Morgan, which in turn was named in honor of Colonel Christopher A. Morgan. The county population was 27,171 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is the...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
estimated that the city population was 10,844 in 2005.
History
The city was named for a military fort established on the site in 1865. The fort, first called Camp Wardwell was established along the Overland Trail to protect emigrants and supplies going to and from Denver and the mining districts. The fort was renamed in 1866 by General John Pope for one of his staff, Colonel Christopher A. Morgan, who had died earlier that year. The fort would close in 1868, but in the short time the fort was active, 19 different companies from 11 regiments both cavalry and infantry, and an estimated 1,200 to 1,400 soldiers would be stationed at the fort. The town of Fort Morgan was platted just south of the old military fort’s ruins on May 1, 1884 by Abner S. Baker, a member of Greeley's Union Colony. The town became the county seat of the newly formed Morgan County on February 19, 1889.Geography
Fort Morgan is located at 40°15′12"N 103°47′57"W (40.253262, -103.799063).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²), of which, 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.32%) is water.
As growth slows and unemployment rise Fort Morgan and other small towns in eastern CO slowly die.
7-4-2011
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 11,034 people, 3,887 households, and 2,736 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,472.1 people per square mile (955.2/km²). There were 4,094 housing units at an average density of 917.2 per square mile (354.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.43% White, 0.28% African American, 1.01% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.24% Pacific Islander, 20.62% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39.04% of the population.
There were 3,887 households out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,128, and the median income for a family was $36,134. Males had a median income of $27,667 versus $22,346 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $15,024. About 8.9% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those
under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
Fort Morgan is the burial place of Philip K. DickPhilip K. Dick
Philip Kindred Dick was an American novelist, short story writer and essayist whose published work is almost entirely in the science fiction genre. Dick explored sociological, political and metaphysical themes in novels dominated by monopolistic corporations, authoritarian governments and altered...
, where he was interred alongside his twin sister who died in early childhood.
Fort Morgan is the boyhood home of Big Band musician Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
. Miller went to High school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Fort Morgan and was known to have once played trumpet on top of Abner S. Baker School, since destroyed in a fire and now rebuilt, which at the time was the high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
campus but is now reserved for fifth and sixth graders.
Robert G. Whitehead
Robert G. Whitehead
Robert George Whitehead was a Texas businessman who created Quaker House Products, Inc., which produced and marketed the first-aid ointment known as "Blue Star Ointment"; some 50 million jars are sold annually in the United States...
(1916–2007) was born in Fort Morgan to a ranching family. He marketed the first-aid ointment known as "Blue Star". Some 50 million jars are sold annually. The product claims to offer relief from psoriasis
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system mistakes the skin cells as a pathogen, and sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. However, psoriasis has been linked to an increased risk of...
, ringworm, athlete's foot
Athlete's foot
Athlete's foot is a fungal infection of the skin that causes scaling, flaking, and itch of affected areas. It is caused by fungi in the genus Trichophyton and is typically transmitted in moist areas where people walk barefoot, such as showers or bathhouses...
and various kinds of itching.
Joel Dreessen
Joel Dreessen
Joel Dreessen is an American football tight end/long snapper for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
, tight end for the Houston Texans, grew up in Fort Morgan and attended Fort Morgan schools. He graduated from Fort Morgan High School in 2000.
Michael Crichton
Michael Crichton
John Michael Crichton , best known as Michael Crichton, was an American best-selling author, producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for his work in the science fiction, medical fiction, and thriller genres. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and many have been adapted...
lived in Fort Morgan for a short time during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
with his family when his father was drafted to serve in the war.
Transportation
AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, the national passenger rail system, provides service through Fort Morgan
Fort Morgan (Amtrak station)
The Fort Morgan Amtrak station is a train station in Fort Morgan, Colorado, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system....
, operating its California Zephyr
California Zephyr
The California Zephyr is a long passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the midwestern and western United States.It runs from Chicago, Illinois, in the east to Emeryville, California, in the west, passing through the states of Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California...
daily in both directions between Chicago
Union Station (Chicago)
Union Station is a major train station that opened in 1925 in Chicago, replacing an earlier 1881 station. It is now the only intercity rail terminal in Chicago, as well as being the city's primary terminal for commuter trains. The station stands on the west side of the Chicago River between Adams...
and Emeryville
Emeryville, California
Emeryville is a small city located in Alameda County, California, in the United States. It is located in a corridor between the cities of Berkeley and Oakland, extending to the shore of San Francisco Bay. Its proximity to San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, the University of California, Berkeley, and...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, across the bay from San Francisco.
Although the town is served by Fort Morgan Municipal Airport, there are no scheduled airlines operating from there. Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel...
is 76 miles southwest and is the closest airport to provide scheduled services.
Major Highways
Interstate 76 connects Fort Morgan to DenverDenver, ColoradoThe City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, located 82 miles southwest. To the northeast, Fort Morgan is linked with Interstate 80 in Big Springs, NebraskaBig Springs, NebraskaBig Springs is a village in Deuel County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 418 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Big Springs is located at ....
, via Sterling, ColoradoSterling, ColoradoThe City of Sterling is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Logan County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 14,777 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sterling is located at...
.
Business Loop 76 runs parallel to Interstate 76, on Platte Avenue, reaching BrushBrush, ColoradoThe City of Brush is a Statutory City located in Morgan County, Colorado, United States. The population was 5,117 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Brush is located at ....
in the east.
US 34 runs east-west from Granby, ColoradoGranby, ColoradoThe Town of Granby is a Statutory Town that is the most populous town in Grand County, Colorado, United States. Granby is situated along U.S. Highway 40 in Middle Park about west of Denver, Colorado, southwest of Rocky Mountain National Park...
to Berwyn, IllinoisBerwyn, IllinoisBerwyn is a city in Cook County, Illinois, co-existent with Berwyn Township, which was formed in 1908 after breaking off from Cicero Township. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 54,016.-Demographics:...
, passing through NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
and IowaIowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. In ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, it connects Fort Morgan to GreeleyGreeley, ColoradoThe City of Greeley is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Weld County, Colorado, United States. Greeley is located in the region known as Northern Colorado. Greeley is situated north-northeast of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. According to the...
and LovelandLoveland, ColoradoLoveland is a Home Rule Municipality that is the second most populous city in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Loveland is situated north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. Loveland is the 14th most populous city in Colorado. The United States Census Bureau that in 2010 the...
.
State Highway 52Colorado State Highway 52State Highway 52 is a long state highway in northeastern Colorado.-Route description:SH 52 begins near Niwot, winding east from its western terminus past US 287 to I-25, near the towns of Dacono, Frederick, and Firestone The highway has interchanges with US 85, then continues east to I-76 in Hudson...
starts at Main Street Fort Morgan and goes north to State Highway 14Colorado State Highway 14State Highway 14 in the U.S. state of Colorado is an east–west state highway approximately long. One of the longest state highways in Colorado, it traverses four counties along the northern edge of the state, spanning a geography from the continental divide in the Rocky Mountains to the...
, near New Raymer. It also serves Fort Morgan Municipal Airport.
See also
- Colorado municipalitiesColorado municipalitiesThe U.S. state of Colorado currently has 271 active incorporated municipalities, including 196 towns, 73 cities, and two consolidated city and county governments.-Municipal government:...
- Fort Morgan Micropolitan Statistical AreaFort Morgan Micropolitan Statistical AreaThe Fort Morgan Micropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Micropolitan Statistical Area located in the Fort Morgan area of the State of Colorado. The Fort Morgan Micropolitan Statistical Area is defined as Morgan County, Colorado. The Micropolitan Statistical Area had...
- Morgan County, ColoradoMorgan County, ColoradoMorgan County is the 18th most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named after old Fort Morgan, which in turn was named in honor of Colonel Christopher A. Morgan. The county population was 27,171 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is the...
- State of Colorado
External links
- City of Fort Morgan website
- Fort Morgan Times (local newspaper website)